BFI Warns: 130,000 Film and TV Scripts Used in AI Training Threaten Screen 

Published Date : 09/06/2025 

The BFI has released a report highlighting the use of 130,000 film and TV scripts to train AI models, raising concerns about copyright and the economic future of the screen sector. 

The British Film Institute (BFI) has released a report that has sent ripples through the film and television industry. According to the report, over 130,000 film and TV scripts have been used to train generative AI models, which poses a significant threat to the fundamental economics of the screen sector.

The report, titled 'AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward,' delves into the major concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and copyright. This comes at a critical time as the UK government is considering legislation that would require copyright holders to opt-out if they do not want their material used for training AI models. This proposal has caused significant consternation among producers and rightsholders.

The scale of the issue is immense. The report highlights that many AI models in wide use have been trained on copyrighted material without the permission of rightsholders or any form of payment to creators. As generative models learn the structure and language of screen storytelling, they can replicate these structures and create new outputs at a fraction of the cost and expense of the original works. These learned capabilities can be used to assist human creatives, but they may also be used to compete against the original creators whose work they were trained on.

The report emphasizes that the existing training paradigm for generative AI models poses a threat to the fundamental economics of the screen sector and its ability to create value from making and commercializing new intellectual property. The opt-out legislation, which is currently making its way through parliament, has been heavily criticized. Sky CEO Dana Strong, speaking at a Deloitte media conference, noted that some consequences of the opt-out are impossible to police.

The report also highlights a 'duality' of both excitement and skepticism that characterizes much of the industry discourse surrounding generative AI. While there are high-profile examples of AI-induced backlash, such as the enhancement of Hungarian dialog in the Oscar-winning film 'The Brutalist,' the screen sector is also adopting AI behind the scenes without public outcry.

A 2023 survey reported that 17% of UK producers had used AI, with 40% planning to do so. In 2024, nearly half of U.S. media executives and 40% of French screen professionals were using AI. The BFI itself reported that approximately 8% of more than 3,000 UK-based fund applicants reported using AI to complete their submissions over the past 18 months.

In general, generative AI is not perfect but is improving in its suitability for creative tasks. The stakes are high, as noted by BFI research director Rishi Coupland in the report’s foreword. Without strategic planning, the UK screen sector may find itself outpaced by global competitors and new AI-native studios. The sector’s future may depend on its ability to harness AI’s benefits while mitigating its risks. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main concern of the BFI report?

A: The main concern of the BFI report is that 130,000 film and TV scripts have been used to train AI models without the permission of rightsholders, posing a threat to the economics of the screen sector.

Q: What is the proposed legislation in the UK regarding AI and copyright?

A: The proposed legislation in the UK would require copyright holders to opt-out if they do not want their material used for training AI models.

Q: How is the screen sector adopting AI?

A: The screen sector is adopting AI both publicly and behind the scenes. A 2023 survey reported that 17% of UK producers had used AI, with 40% planning to do so.

Q: What is the 'duality' mentioned in the report?

A: The 'duality' mentioned in the report refers to the mix of excitement and skepticism surrounding generative AI in the screen sector.

Q: What are the potential risks of AI in the screen sector?

A: The potential risks of AI in the screen sector include the threat to the economics of creating and commercializing new intellectual property and the possibility of AI models competing against the original creators whose work they were trained on. 

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